Chris Ernest Nelson

The Magic Snake - Poem by Chris Ernest Nelson

Radiant on the desert sand, in the pounding glare of a direct sun, I watched the scripting serpent dancethe painted shaman's dance.The cactus flower, glowing white, opened to embrace a chant so deepit rumbled in the earthand cried out to mark the comingof stars at noon.

Rabid flesh, with rolling drums, dispelled the awesome darkest wrongsand out of the private place of fearswallowed the inner night.In wonder the totem song laughedto weave a scarf of pulsing air, in patterns of magic color.And the snake worked itselfinto the fabric.